Suit for divers and an intercommunication system therefor



Oct. 3, 1961 H. J. BURNETT 3,003,136

sun FOR DIVERS AND'AN INTERCOMMUNICATION SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed Nov. e, 1958 INVENTOR. HENRY J BURNETT. 3 BY HTTORNEY.

3,003,136 SUIT FOR DIVERS AND AN INTERCOMMUNI- CATION SYSTEM THEREFOR Henry J. Burnett, 55 Glenbruok Road, West Hartford, Conn: Filed Nov. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 772,343 12 Claims. (Cl. 340-) This invention relates to anintercommunication system for divers and a divers suit or other equipment in which said system is incorporated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an underwater intercommunication system which is particularly adapted for the transmission and reception of voices or other signals between divers while submerged in water.

A'further object is the provision of such a system which is adapted for the reception of voices, or other signals, and which may be readily converted for transmitting a reply to said signals.

tates Patent A further object of this invention is to provide such an underwater signal receiving system which may be quickly converted to a transmitting system by merely operating a pushbutton or other suitable means.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a divers suit that is equipped with my improved receiving and transmitting system. I

Further objects and advantages of the present inyention will be more fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view. illustrating a divers suit embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the electronic circuiu'y for the receiving and transmitting system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a portion of a divers suit embodying the present invention.

The receiving and transmitting system disclosed in the drawing hereof and to be herein described is a modification of the receiving and transmitting system described in my copending application Serial No. 784,919, iiled January 5, 1 959, and is particularly designe'd for use by such persons as frogmen, skin divers and the like while submerged in water; this invention being particularly intended for use in a divers suit or with other equipment used by divers.

As shown in the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates generally, a receiving and transmitting device which may be enclosed in a suitable waterproof case 6 and which is preferably of a size that can be easily and con- 'veniently carried by a diver underwater, or permanently installed in a suit or other equipment for divers.

The said device comprises electronic circuitry which includes an amplifying circuit 7 having a suitable number of preferably transistorized amplifying stages 8 to which are connected negative and positive electrodes 9 and 10, respectively. The said amplifying circuit is connected to a power output circuit 11 which includes a suitable two-way transformer 12 that is connectible to either a speaker 13 or to said electrodes 9 and 10 by means of a multi-pole two-way switch 15 which is selectively operated by a suitable manually operable member, such as a push-button indicated at 16.

In the use of the improved receiver and transmitter device above described, the said device is normally with the switch 15 in the position shown so that it is in condition to operate as a receiver for receiving electric signal currents carrying voice or other signals transmitted from a similar device used by another diver who wishes to communicate with the first diver. When the device is in such condition to receive, the signal currents are picked up by the electrodes 9 and 10 and carried through Patented on. 3, 1961 the respective blades of the switch 15, through the amplifying circuit 7 and the power output circuit, 11 and through the respective blade of said switch 15 to the speaker 13.

When the user of said device receives a signal the other diver and he wishes to reply thereto, he immediately presses the button 16 and thereby moves the blades of the switch 15 to the position indicated in dotted lines and the device then becomes a transmitter. Upon sending the voice or signal, the electric currents will then pass from the transmitting microphone 14 through the amplifying system and through the power output circuit 11 to the electrodes 9 and 10 from which the electric currents will be transmitted through the water to the electrodes which are connected to a similar device operated by the second diver.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention also contemplates a divers suit, indicated at 17, which is preferably constructed of rubber or other similar waterproof material and in which my above describedimproved receiving and transmitting system is incorporated, preferably in a permanent manner. Said suit has a body portion 18, leg portions 19 and a head portion 20. As shown, the receiving and transmitting device 5 is preferably mounted upon the body portion of the suit, near the chest, and shielded in such a manner that it is waterproof. If desired, the said device may be suitably mounted upon the inner side of the suit, as shown in FIG. 3, with the pushbutton 16 thereof disposed so that it may be operated by merely pressing upon the flexible portion.17a of said suit to move said button and operate the switch 15 for converting the device into a transmitter' as above described.

My improved divers suit also includes a suitable earphone 13a which is secured upon the inner wall of the head portion 20 in position to rest against the diversea-r, so that he may readily hear a signal sent by another diver.

The said divers suit 17 also includes a transmtting throat microphone 14-11 which is preferably mounted upon the neck portion 21 so that it will be in contact 'With the throat of the diver in said suit and will operate to transmit the 'divers voice upon merely speaking in a natural manner. 7

Said suit also includes the electrode Ill-b which is mounted in the head portion thereof and the electrode 9-]; which is mounted in the foot portion of one of the legs 19 so that said electrodes are separated for the maximum distance possible to thereby render maximum efiiciency in the reception and transmission of the elec tric signal currents through the Water which is acting as the medium for conducting said currents.

Practically all of the transiston'zed circuitry, including the power source, such as the suitable batteries 22, is contained within the relatively small and compact case 6; the only members extending therefrom being the electrodes 9 and 10, which must be exposed and in direct contact with the Water, the microphone 1-4 and the speaks er 13.

If desired, the said case 6 may be mounted upon the exterior of the divers suit and the button 16 may be operated through a flexible diaphragm or other suitable watertight means on the casing, not shown.

It will be understood from the above description and the accompanying drawing that my invention provides a divers suit which contains an intercomrnunication device that is normally in condition to receive signals so that a diver will receive a message transmitted by another diver and the said set is then convertible, merely by pressing a button, such as 16, so that the entire set becomes a transmitter and will enable the diver to respond to the signal he has received. In this manner, a conversation, or exchange of signals, may be carried on between two or more divers within the range of the system by eachdivermerely operating the pushbutton 1 6 when he wishes to respond.

Also if desired, my improved receiving and transmitting system maybe readily adapted for use by skin exterior of the suit for converting said system for the transmission or reception of signals.

' 5. In a divers suit constructed of flexible sheet material, a receiving and transmitting system including an electronic device containing amplifyingcircuitry and mounted within said. suit adjacent a flexible wall portion divers, for which use, the case 6 may be mounted bysuitable means upon the body of the diver or his diving equipment, and the microphone and speaker may be, respecproviding anamplifying circuit, a power output circuit connected to said amplifyin" circuit, a pair of electrodes,

a transmitting microphone, a speaker, and a multi-pole tions anda pairof footportions; the combination of an electronic receiving and transmitting system including amplifying circuitry contained within a case mounted .ad-

switch adapted to selectively connect one of said electrodes to said amplifying circuit and said speaker to said power output circuit for rendering said circuitry operable for the reception of signals through said speaker, or connect said microphone to said amplifying circuit and said electrode'to said power output circuit to render said circuitry operable for. the transmission of signals through said microphone.

2. A receiving and transmitting system including an electronic device having. an amplifying circuit, a power output circuit including a transformer connected to said amplifying circuit, an electrode connected to said amplifying circuit, a. separate electrode, a speaker, a microphone, and a multi-pole manually operable switch for selectivelyconnectiug saidseparate electrode to said amplifying circuit and said speaker to said transformer for receiving signals, or connecting said separate electrodeto said transformer and said microphone to said amplifyingcircuit to render said system operable for transmitting signals.

3. A receiving and transmitting. system including an electronic device having an amplifying circuit, a power output circuit connected to said amplifying circuit, an electrode connected to said amplifying circuit, a separate electrode, a speaker, a microphone, and a manually operable switch having a plurality of poles, one of said poles being adapted for connecting said separate electrode to one side of said amplifier and to said power output circuit, another of said poles being adapted to connect said speaker to said power output circuit and another of said poles being adapted to connect said microphone to the said amplifying circuit, the said switch being normally in position wherein the separate electrode is connected to the amplifying circuit and the speaker is connected to the power output circuit for receiving signals, and means for operating said switch into position wherein the said microphone is connected to the amplifying circult and the separate electrode is connected to said power circuit to render said system operable for transmitting signals.

4. In a divcrs suit, a receiving and transmitting system the combination of an electronic signal transmitting sys-. tern including circuitry contained Within a case mounted upon said body portion, said circuitry including a microincluding an electronic device mounted to the body porthereof, and switchrneans on said device including a movable membercoperable by flexing movement of said wall portion when pressure is applied upon the exterior thereof.

6. In a divers suit having body, head and neck .por

jacent said body portion, a pair of electrodes exposed exteriorly. of said suit for direct contact with the'water in which said suit is submergedone of said electrodes being mounted upon said head portion and the other on one of said foot portions, a speaker mounted on said head portion, and a microphone disposed on said neck portion. 7. In a divers suit having body and head portions; the

- combination of an electronic signal receiving system in- I eluding amplifying circuitry contained within a case mounted upon said body portion; said circuitry including a speaker in said head portion, and a pair of spaced electrodes exposed exteriorly of said suit for direct contact withwater inwhich said suit is submerged.

8. In a divers suit having body and neck'portions;

phone in said neck portion, and a pair of spaced electrodes exposed exteriorly of said suit for direct contact with water in which said suit is submerged;

9. The subject matter set forth in claim 8 wherein said electrodes are mounted upon spaced portions of said suit.

10. In a divers suit, the combinationof an electronic signal receiving and transmitting system including circuitry carried by said suit; said circuitry having connected thereto a speaker, a microphone, and a pair of spaced electrodes exposed exteriorly of said suit for direct contact with water in which said suit is submerged.

11. The subject matter set forth in claim 10 wherein said electrodes are mounted upon spaced portions of said suit.

12. An electronic system for the reception and transmission of signals by a diver under water; said system including electronic circuitry providing amplifying means contained within a case having connected thereto a pair of electrodes, a transmitting microphone and a speaker, manually operable means in said case for converting said circuitry for the reception or transmission of signals, means for mounting said case upon the body of the diver Within reach of his hand, means for mounting said microphone adjacent to the divers throat, means for mounting said speaker adjacent said divers ear, and means whereby said electrodes are carried by said diver in spaced apart positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent .UNITED STATES PATENTS 526,609 Blake Sept. 25, 1894 1,190,156 Hahnemann July 4, 1916 2,141,323 Troisi Dec. 27, 1938 

